House passes health care repeal, again

CBS/iStockphoto

(CBS News) The Republican-led effort to repeal President Obama's health care law passed the House of Representatives Wednesday, successfully setting up campaign talking points for the coming months, but accomplishing little else.

The vote was the 33rd time the House has voted to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act, but Wednesday's vote was the first House action to repeal since the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law nearly two weeks ago.

With the reality that it will also be the 33rd time that the measure will fail to be passed by the Democratic-led Senate, Wednesday's action ultimately winds up being only political in nature, giving Republicans material for their political races to tell voters that they are committed to sinking the health care overhaul.

We are voting "so we may all be on record in order to show that the house rejects 'Obamacare,' and we are committed to taking this flawed law off the books," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., sad on the House floor.

The vote, 244 - 185, was largely along party lines but five Democrats sided with the entire Republican caucus.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said health care repeal effort shows why people "loathe" politics.

Two Democrats who supported the repeal, Reps. Dan Boren of Oklahoma and Mike Ross of Arkansas are retiring. Three other Democrats, Reps. Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre, both of N.C., and Jim Matheson of Utah, exemplify the ramifications of supporting the contentious law in competitive districts; each are facing difficult reelections.  In 2010, all five voted against passage of the Affordable Care Act.

House Democratic leaders, bolstered by the Supreme Court's decision last month, called the vote pure politics.

This is a "useless bill to nowhere that does serious damage to the health and well being of American families," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney added the vote is what people "loathe about politics and Washington."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the House voted because Americans "certainly didn't ask for a government takeover" of health care. "There is a better way. Americans want a step by step approach," he said on the House floor prior to the vote.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has repeatedly promised to "repeal and replace" the law if elected.

Since the Supreme Court upheld the law last month, the president has touted the ruling on the campaign trail. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, the president said he will "work with anybody to improve the health care law where we can, but this law is here to stay."

Amid debate of repeal, Obama defends health law
A post-Supreme Court guide to the health care law
How could Republicans repeal the health care law?

[AlexanderKrzyston]

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.....John F. Kennedy

posted by Alexander Krzyston

[TimeToEvolve]

Only thing is that the Canadian system is rated much higher than the "health" care system of the US.

[hillzhavays]

by Dancing-in-the-Streets July 12, 2012 2:29 PM EDT
Talk to a REAL Live Canadian once in a while!
______________________________
While I didn't talk to him, I think Claude Castonguay qualifies as a REAL live Canadian. He designed the system and says it sucks, so I'll pretty much just take his word for it.

[hillzhavays]

Proof once again that a Lefty loon has been confronted with a fact that they don't like:

#3 on the list of sure-fire ways to tell if a Leftwing loon has heard a fact that undermines their view of the world:

Their response will contain one of the following: Parrot, Fox or Rush.

If it contains all three, they're super bummed about it. Right-Wing seems to be just merely perturbed.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by EmpireGeorge______-- July 12, 2012 3:30 PM EDT
hillzhavays, what really bothers me, is this constant "why aren't we like those countries, they have healthcare, we don't"......they are bankrupt and we aren't (yet, but will be)......is it me, or do they not get it ?
----------------------------
Whatever.
Lets have a country where Killing is more Valued than Helping people.
Lets have a country where the poor are lying sick, starving and dying of disease on the sidewalk.
Hopefully the rich won't trip on the bodies as they walk down the street.

I got it.
You got yours - to hell with everyone else!
Whatever - I'm done for the day.

[seabass6251]

Whoever said any of that???

[hillzhavays]

Thank you george, I also noticed dancing didn't have any evidence to refute any of the points I made. If the systems suck and are bankrupting the country, it really isn't much of a solution is it?

dancing, take a gander at your german health system:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125849684108252695.html

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Germany has managed Universal Healthcare for 100 years! 100 Years! And now it has a problem because the birth rate has gone down. Makes sense, the birth rate goes down the price needs to go up to compensate, until things even out again. I see no desparate crisis there.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by seabass6251 July 12, 2012 3:01 PM EDT
Sure Windbag, we could take all the money being wasted on the military and waste it on social programs instead, going bankrupt just as quick. Sounds like a good plan.
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We have a choice - HEALING peole - or KILLING people....or....a more balanced approach at doing BOTH! Right now the amount we spend on Defense is Astronomical compared to the small amount we spend on healthcare.

[seabass6251]

Balanced approach? Maybe I don't understand the CBO's deficit projections as well as you.

I don't have the first problem cutting the defense budget. I also wouldn't have the first problem cutting the ACA that we can't pay for either.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Our Mainland?
Our Resources?
What the Hell is my niece doing in Afghanistan? Why that's on the other side of the world!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by AOCGUY July 12, 2012 2:46 PM EDT
Fact of the matter i that insurance companies including TRICARE cahnge what they cover ALL the time. It is necessary to remain financially viable or in TRICARE's case just to not lose as much money. I think most will accept that while on active duty military healthcare is pretty good. However when I was stationed in South Carolina my wife was being treated for skin cancer. The base sent her to a dermatologist in Columbia where he prescribed Retin-A for her precancerous lesions. For a bout a year the base filled those prescriptions. Then one day they wouldn't using the argument the middle aged women only wanted Retin-A to remove age spots and wrinkles. This was the US Military denying my wife medication prescribed by a doctor they sent her to, to remove precancerous lesions before they became life threatening. Needless to say the Chief of Pharmacy and I had a talk. Things like this happen every day all over the country with every health insurance company.

Tommorow, God willing, my bride will be released form the hospital after a week of battling menengitis. At this moment I still do not know if that stay and all the treatment she has and will continue to get will be covered by my TRICARE insurance. Now I am certainly not destitute and if some of those bills come my way, as unhappy as I will be I will be able to pay them. Not every one is that lucky. Had I no insurance the hospital my wife is in would have still treated her but would have transferred the cost to those patients (and their insurance companies) that can pay. So ultimately those of us with means will always pay.
--------------------------------
I remember when we were in the military and if there was anything unfair you could go to an I.G. to protest.
That piece is missing out here in the civilian world.
That is what we need. Until now Insurance Companies just went unchecked doing exactly what they wanted.

[AOCGUY]

Actually that piece does exist in one shpe or another in the civilian world at least at state level with insurance commisioners. My point is that insurers do make changes as to what they will cover or not cover, particularly with medications and often those decisions are made by business people with a business/profit motive.

And as much as I might gripe about TRICARE, I am extremly happy that I did stay through retirement and thus be eligible for TRICARE now, especially when I see what the costs my civilian brethren must bear to obtain health insurance.

[Lindag20]

It's been interesting, but I have things to do. George enjoy your "gated community" life where everything works the way it's "supposed to". Perhaps you'll never encounter the world Zann and I are telling you about. Loon keep it going. See you.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Bye Linda! Have a good day out there! : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

by EmpireGeorge______-- July 12, 2012 2:23 PM EDT
Lindag20, I feel for those who suffer because of having bad insurance. as you have.....I just wanted you to know that not everyone needs to "battle their insurance companies" like you do.
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But many DO have to fight those battles George! Just because You've got Yours - doesn't mean there isn't a problem out there that needs to be solved! Most of us have NO choice but to take whichever ins. plan our employer chooses.....Until NOW!

[seabass6251]

Or you may have the chance to choose from a plan your employer does not choose or pay for you.

The Friday after the Supreme Court decision, a local full-time fireman called me almost in tears about health insurance. He is a very good friend of mine, and he needed advice. That Friday, the local municipality informed all firemen that they would no longer provide health insurance to the them. The firemen had a choice of nothing or an increase of a certain amount set year after year. The problem is this: the increase in pay MIGHT pay the premium for the first year for this family of four, but it will not even come close as premiums rise in coming years.

Don't think employers won't take action against this invasion into their businesses, and this example was the action taken by the local municipality.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Our country needs to make a decision.
Which is more Important - People or Businesses?

Money or Health?

[Lindag20]

by EmpireGeorge______-- July 12, 2012 2:21 PM EDT
Right-Wing-loon, well the Party (me) is now telling you to shut the eff up already.....now obey
--------------
George that wasn't nice. Besides that loon has the SAME rights you do to comment. I think he's great.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Actually George, the Loon is just re-interpreting exactly what you're saying each time! This is what you said - This is what we heard! LOL!